“The overwhelming factor in 2015 in Washington was heat,” said winemaker Mike Macmorran of Mark Ryan Winery in Woodinville. “It was relentless.”

Indeed, many viticulture regions saw record heat, with Red Mountain accumulating more than 3,900 growing degree-days, and even cooler regions such as the Yakima Valley getting more than 3,150. Starting in February, temperatures were considerably above average, leading to an advancement of all markers of the growing season.
“We saw some bud break at the end of March, which is very unusual,” said Marty Clubb, managing winemaker and co-owner of L’Ecole No. 41 in Lowden. The warm temperatures continued throughout the growing season, with most markers at least two to three weeks ahead of historical averages.

The 2015 growing season in Oregon was marked by warm conditions, a large set, and exceptional quality fruit.

Growing degree-days started accumulating early in the state. “We just didn’t really have a winter,” said Alex Sokol Blosser, winegrower and winemaker at Sokol Blosser in the Dundee Hills. “We had the warmest March and June on record. March really got things going, and after June, the train never slowed down. It just sped up.”

Bud break and bloom were advanced as much as three to four weeks ahead of historical averages. In the Willamette Valley, the weather was unusually settled during bloom. “It was the most perfect bloom conditions I have ever experienced,” said winemaker Gary Horner of Erath in the Dundee Hills. “It never fails that we get showers that kind of knock back set. This year, we didn’t get any.”